U.S. President Donald Trump has sharply criticized Spain’s defense spending, stating that the country has “always” spent “very little” on its defense. These remarks come after the government of Pedro Sánchez has become the biggest stumbling block within NATO to reach an agreement on the new, ambitious spending commitment of 5 percent of GDP. The controversy highlights the ongoing tensions within the alliance regarding burden-sharing.
Spain in the Crosshairs of Criticism
“NATO will have to deal with Spain. Spain paid very little. He always paid very little. Either they were good negotiators or they didn’t do the right thing. I think Spain has to pay the same as everyone else. Spain is known for paying little,” Donald Trump told the press. These direct words underscore the U.S. frustration over what it sees as insufficient contributions from some alliance partners. Trump’s repeated call for fairer burden-sharing is a central point of his foreign policy agenda.
Trump’s Vision for NATO Funding: 5 Percent GDP Target
Furthermore, the former and potentially future occupant of the White House reiterated his belief that NATO countries “without a doubt” should spend 5 percent of their GDP on defense. “I think they should. I don’t think we should, but I think they should. We’ve spent so long supporting NATO. In many cases, I think we’re paying almost 100 percent of the cost,” he elaborated. This statement implies that the U.S. might reduce its financial involvement in the alliance if the 5 percent target is not met, putting significant pressure on European partners to substantially increase their defense budgets.
Spain’s Resistance and the Search for Exceptions
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt had already emphasized the previous day at a press conference that all NATO member countries, including Spain, would have to increase their spending to the 5 percent threshold. Just hours earlier, Pedro Sánchez had informed the Secretary-General of the Atlantic Alliance, Mark Rutte, that he could not commit to this ambitious goal. Instead, Sánchez proposed making an exception for Spain or making the goal “optional.” This move illustrates the difficulties Spain faces in drastically increasing its defense spending in an already strained budgetary environment. Discussions within NATO about the distribution of financial burdens are likely to continue intensely in the coming months.
